I-beam clamp



United States Patent O 3,465,995 I-BEAM CLAMP Ona Louis Whitman, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Viber Company, Burbank, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 707,507 Int. Cl. F161 3/24 US. Cl. 248-228 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clamping means is provided for the removable attachment of a mechanical device such as a vibratory machine to a flanged structural member such as a steel I- beam, whereby the mechanical device is rigidly secured to the beam during operation of the mechanical device, and wherein the clamping means is readily removable from the I-beam when desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In concrete construction, means are desired for the removable attachment of vibratory machines and the like to the enclosing form structures so that the unset concrete within the forms may be consolidated by the application of vibratory energy. Steel I-beams are commonly used in the form structures, and the vibrators are mounted on these I-beam members. It is important that the vibrators be attached securely to the beams so that they do not become loosened during operation, and also a simple clamping mechanism is desirable to facilitate the installation as well as the removal of the clamp and its attached vibrator. Since the vibrator as well as the clamp to secure it to the I-beam, are heavy, the clamp device must be simple, and readily mounted in place, and must itself be rugged.

This invention meets these requirements by providing a clamp structure of heavy metal castings as will be described, including a fixed jaw member integral with the clamp base, and a movable jaw actuated by a nut and threaded bolt means, as will be understood from the more detailed description below, reference being made to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred form, in which FIG. 1 is a top perspective view in disassembly, with the bolt omitted for clarity in showing the structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the clamp body shown in FIG. 1, looking toward the outer face of the fixed clamp jaw member; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as if taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 but showing the bolt and nut means in place, and also showing the jaws of the clamp as engaging the flange of a structural I-beam to which the device is intended to be fastened.

Referring to the drawings, a heavy cast steel body 11 consists of a somewhat elongated base member 12 having an integral raised central portion defined by two side blocks 13 and 14, spaced apart, with a groove 15 in intermediate position between said blocks, said groove being adapted upon assembly to position the top surface of the clamp bolt 16 immediately below the top surfaces of the two blocks 13 and 14. The fixed clamp jaw 17 is formed integrally on the base 12 between the block ends at one side 18 of the base 12, the I-beaim-engaging portion 19 of said jaw 17 extending inwardly and tapering downwardly above the top faces 20 and 21 of the blocks 13 and 14, upon which the I-beam flange rests in the clamp.

An integral boss 22, having a bolt-head engaging recess 23, is provided on the external face of the fixed clamp jaw 17. The recess 23 is arranged to engage opposed faces "ice of the bolt head 24, and there is an overhanging boltretaining lip 25 which extends over the upper edge portion of the bolt head 24, which lip serves to prevent the bolt 16 from falling out of the elliptical hole 26, which is provided through the body 27 of the fixed jaw member 17. The elliptical hole 26 permits the removal of the bolt 16 upon occasion, by raising the opposite threaded end 28 thereof in order to clear the head 24 from the retaining lip 25.

Bolt holes 29, 30 and 31 suitably positioned through the clamp base 12 outside the side blocks 13 and 14 are provided for use in attaching the mechanism to be supported, such as the concrete form vibrator (not shown) for the support of which this clamp means is particularly designed. A hand-sized opening 32 is provided through the base 12 to serve as a hand carrying means, and a safety chain is indicated at 33.

The movable jaw 34 of the clamp is an elongated steel casting having a clamp-bolt hole 35 therethrough, and having on the inner face two protruding edge members 36 and 39. The upper or I-beam-engaging edge member 36 extends forwardly from the jaw body 34 to engage the flange 37 of an I-beam, being provided with a downwardly inclined engaging surface 38 designed to wedge against the I-beam flange 37. The lower edge member 39 of the inward face of the movable jaw 34 is also formed with an upwardly inclined surface 40 which is adapted to wedge against an oppositely inclined undercut 41 provided along the lower edge of the base member 12 opposite said movable jaw 34, to keep the movable jaw in alignment with the base member 12.

A heavy nut 43 is provided to operate on the threads 44 of the bolt 16, whereby to close the opposed jaws, as upon the flange of the I-beam. The bolt 16 is made of high strength hardened steel to withstand the stress of holding the clamp securely on the I-bea m, even under the additional stress of the strong vibratory forces generated by the vibrator attached to the base of the clamp. The cylindrical surface of the intermediate portion of the bolt 16 is disposed closely adjacent the plane of the I-beam flange which is engaged in the clamp, so that bending of the bolt when the clamp is set, is avoided.

The advantages of my new clamp structure for the purposes set forth will be obvious from the above description.

I claim:

1. A heavy duty clamping means adapted for attachment to the flange of a structural I-beam, comprising (1) a base portion including an integral fixed clamp jaw member;

(2) an opposed movable jaw member; and

(3) a headed clamp bolt and nut combination for holding said movable jaw member in opposed clamping relation to said fixed clamp jaw on said base portion; said base portion being elongated, with an elevated portion extending across its midportion terminating in said integral fixed clamp jaw member, said elevated portion being provided with a groove for positioning the said clamp bolt therein, said groove terminating in a bolt hole through said fixed clamp jaw member, and said bolt hole terminating in a bolt-head receiving recess in the outer face of said fixed jaw .member; said movable jaw member having a hole through its central portion adapted to engage the threaded end portion of said clamp bolt and to abut the nut thereon whereby said movable jaw member may be moved toward and away from said fixed jaw member, and said movable jaw member having means coacting with an adjacent edge of said base portion opposite said fixed clamp jaw member to hold said clamp bolt in said groove when said jaws are brought into clamping relation against the flange of a structural I-beam disposed therebetween; said clamp bolt hole through said fixed contacting faces of said clamp jaws are tapered to provide downward wedging engagement between the object resting on the top surface of said elevated central portion of the base member, and said clamp faces.

3. The clamping means defined in claim 1, in which the base portions extending beyond said elevated central 1 portion is provided with bolt holes for the attachment 4 thereto of the machines to be mounted by said clamp on the structural I-beam.

References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 966,906 8/1910 Grannis 248-228 X 976,584 11/1910 Lovett 151-44 1,658,956 2/1928 Wehr 248228 X 2,748,646 6/1956 Harold et a1 85-9 ROY D. F RAZIER, Primary Examiner I. FRANKLIN FOSS, Assistant Examiner 5 US. Cl. X.R. 

